Explore a New World – Open a Book!

Neuschwanstein: The Bavarian Castle by jeffwilcox

I am a tried and true bookworm. I absolutely LOVE TO READ! It’s in my blood the way sailing ships or climbing mountains is in other people’s blood. I’ve read so many books over the years I astound even myself. I am constantly amazed by the un-ending amount of new authors and new stories to explore.

You might think that books are a bit repetitive and dull. After all, how many different ways can the good guys win? Or how many different types of dragons can roam these fantasy worlds? The answer is: endless varieties!

I recently finished two fantastically entertaining books in the last two days. The first was “High Druid of Shannara: Straken.” It was the end of a trilogy written by Terry Brooks, and an amazing voyage. It has druids and castles, trolls, dwarves, flying ships, magic of all kinds, and that’s before you even get to the World of the Forbidding.

The second book was the uplifting and inspiring Stargirl by Jerry Spinelli. It was such a fresh and fun-filled change from Straken that I read it in less than 24 hours. Wow. Stargirl, as her name implies, comes into the dull, ordinary lives of the students of Mica High School and turns their world upside down. In a whirlwind of color and flair Stargirl wreaks her havoc by having the nerve to be different in a town where no one stands out.

Both books were engaging, captivating, exhilarating and utterly mesmerizing. Whenever the world seems dull, depressing, or I’m just looking for a new ideas, books are a great source of inspiration. Like the popular Narnia tales by C.S. Lewis, each author has his or her own take on life. Even when the book is set in the normal, everyday world, these tales have insights and understandings into life that many of us miss.

I recommend reading to everyone. No matter what your interest, there is a book, magazine, comic book or audio recording on the topic. Next time you’re looking for an interesting change, stop by your nearest library or bookstore and pick up a new read. It’ll be the start of a whole new world.

Check out What Should I Read Next for ideas on the next author and title you should check out next. Just put in the name of your favorites and click the button to find a great new story.

Superheroes are the cure for bored readers.

Parents who want their children to read sometimes have trouble finding things that excite them enough to pick up a book. Perhaps the kids have a lot of schoolwork or extra-curricular activities. Maybe they aren’t very proficient readers. One option to consider is comic books. Much more than silly stories about costumed heroes, comics are full of characters who not only fight evil to keep the world safe, but also deal with being different, learning about their bodies and powers, and everyday relationships.

You can find comics for young children like those based on Disney characters such as Mickey Mouse, The Little Mermaid and others. Older readers will like many of the all-time favorites such as Spiderman, Captain America, Superman and Batman. The wonderful thing about comic books is of course the artwork. Vivid pictures explain the story well to even the weakest reader. The artwork also enhances understanding of what they are reading since it is directly related to the story.

Comics are a great reading opportunity to for children with poor comprehension skills or those who are active and don’t like to sit still for long. They are much shorter than books, there’s a huge variety to choose from, and with new ones coming out every week you can pick up a new story any time.

Check out this great link to see how a class of students introduced to comics enjoyed it and made their own shirts to celebrate. Here is another link to top 20 comics for kids. Also check out Marvel and DC for more. Then get those kids reading!